LG's KS20 and KU990 vs. the iPhone

The silent, yet eerily palpable rivalry betwixt LG and Apple continues, secretly, growing subtlety with every new phone release (as you can see in the Windows Mobile-based KS20). Or maybe these two companies just love this design -- certainly Nokia is fond of it. It's hard to say really, but what isn't hard to say is that these phones do look alike, and there's no way around it. Please forgive the German showgirl for the upside down iPhone handling -- they haven't had the fortune of holding them here. After the break, be sure and note the UI of LG's KU990 -- the company's other widescreen touch phone -- and its familiar look. One thing's for sure: they all smudge the same.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 2:30PM]

The iPhone is actually starting to look old fashioned. Apple may have broken new ground with it but the established phone developers seem to be rising to the challenge.

[werk Posted Aug 31st 2007 10:39PM]

I have to agree. I also think the latest iMac design will age very quickly as well (personally, I thought it looked cheesy from the get-go).

[logic368 Posted Aug 31st 2007 2:55PM]

:D duh, apple OBVIOUSLY copied the dell axim x50! lol http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/aximx50s/aximx509.jpg

[Dragod Posted Aug 31st 2007 3:00PM]

LG KS20 Vs. iPhone

Feature | KS20 | iPhone
OS | Windows Mobile 6 | OSX
Data | GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA | WiFi/EDGE
3G? | Yes | No
Weight | 3.5oz | 4.8oz
Screen Resolution | 240x320 | 480x320
Camera Resolution | 2.0mp | 2.0mp
Video Recording | Yes | No
Video Playback | H263, H264, MPEG 4, 3GP formats supported, WMV | H264, MPEG 4, MOV
Music Playback | MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA | AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 1, 2, and 3), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
FM Radio?AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 1, 2, and 3), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
FM Radio | Yes | No
Memory Slot | MicroSD | None
Predictive Text | Yes | Yes
USB | Yes | Yes
Wifi | 802.11b | 802.11b/g
Bluetooth | Yes | Yes
Connectors | Proprietary | Proprietary
Phonebook | Yes | Yes
Voice | Recording, Speakerphone | Speakerphone


This is just basic info I got from http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/LG-KS20-phone-p_1999.html and http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html to compare them... Some stuff like Battery were represented different, and I have no idea how to figure out how to convert or compare mAh to Talk time, Playback time, etc.

Plus, I was kinda bored and I liked the look of the KS20.

[Dragod Posted Aug 31st 2007 3:03PM]

ah, I messed up something in the music playback area... I thought I deleted it on accident. I guess I just ended up moving it instead. Just ignore the second part that starts with "FM Radio?"

[Dragod Posted Aug 31st 2007 3:12PM]

Here's the info on the KU990, it actually is better than the KS20: http://www.phoneyworld.com/handsets/specs.aspx?phone=LG_KU990_Viewty

[Step666 Posted Aug 31st 2007 3:58PM]

Might it not have been easier just to have done this?

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone2=1827&idPhone1=2070

[PaulY Posted Aug 31st 2007 3:12PM]

"apple unlike Microsoft doesn't replace a decent OS for a $hitty one"

Nope, they just do that with video editing software...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 4:00PM]

As people have pointed out, the physical features of touchscreens are going to be very similar...rectangular, with large screens. They may be black, white, or other colors, but it will be hard NOT to share similar form factors, so the 'copying the iphone' references are a little thin.

The distinguishing features of the touchscreen phones are obviously going to be their software interfaces. This LG phone has exactly the type of nonsense that I hate about standard mobile phone interfaces. What the *@(! is "web'n'walk"? or "t-zones"? What are those 3 icons along the right side of the player? Is that bottom one a gear or a snowflake? Am I going to get the weather or a mobile phone settings screen if I push it?

Sure, I can learn to use any mobile phone if I spend enough time with it and read the manual...but there is something wonderful about being able to pick up a device and have a simple, intuitive interface that doesn't obscure all its functionality.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 5:25PM]

web'n'walk & t-zones are typical carrier branding services that T-mobile force on all phones that are capable of internet usage and have zero to do with the original handset OS design.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 4:02PM]

The LG actually looks slightly better in my opinion. But the iPhone wins because I like to use my phone for web browsing and looking up stuff on the go. The 320x240 resolution on the LG is simply unusable for browsing. Even with 480 x 320 the iPhone falls short in this regard. For a good browsing experience, 800+ px width is a must.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2007 11:17AM]

wow the LG looks mad nice compared to the iphone. I'm not saying anything bad it's just I like the smaller phone and it looks cooler.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 9:48PM]

In my opinion, I think that the LG KS20 looks the best out of all 3. I'm not a big fan of the large curved chrome edges on the iPhone (I know a lot of electronics these days have the chrome edges, but it just looks a bit much to me). And yes, I notice that both LG phones have the chrome edge thing going on too, but they at least look more toned down. Too bad the LG KS20 doesn't have the specs of the LG KU990 (5MP camera, both 120fps & 30fps video recording, DivX playback, etc).

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 5:45PM]

always funny to see the ms haters pile on but know absolutely nothing from whence they speak. tiny mouths peeping out from overused sphincters- just far enough to blurt out something stupid. vista is good, my ms pocket pc rules, has wifi, can change batteries, import ringtones, run a ton of programs that are already available. apple is ass- 4 years 6 months till they close their doors for good- guaranteed.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 7:38PM]

Why do you need to change batteries? is your battery life that bad?

[Solipsism Posted Aug 31st 2007 7:02PM]

Better stop copying Apple, or what? You'll continue flooding the internet with grammatically incorrect rants?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2007 8:54PM]

uhh no Apple copied LG,
the LG Prada come out before the Iphone

[DoomSwitch Posted Dec 3rd 2007 5:48AM]

Apple Willingly infringes on several copyrights seemingly every time they release a new product, LG already opened a lawsuit with Apple over several patented things Apple willingly infringed upon with the iPhone (LG vs. Apple Lawsuit over Prada) .. Also Apple willingly infringed upon Cisco's patented iPhone trademark. APPLE is the one UNORIGINAL design team that claims to have created new things with "...years of research and development", when what it seems to be all that they are doing is browsing (researching) patents that they intend to willingly infringe upon while the "developing team" makes small hardware changes in an attempt to disguise what they have committed. Infringing upon Apple is joke! BLACKTANGULAR!!!!

Oh, btw, Xerox + Apple and GUI = LOL ; Always has and always will be!

[DoomSwitch Posted Dec 3rd 2007 5:23AM]

LOL! BLACKTANGULAR BLACKTANGULAR BLACKTANGULAR!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2007 10:52PM]

what a pointless artice, you guys left out whats really important; the UI. any friggin touch phone is gonna be a rectangle of some size, but all i learned about the UI is that it isnt very colorful...

[TrueDis Posted Aug 31st 2007 11:27PM]

I don't see Viewty vs iPhone. Come on Engadget, quit scamming us with the headlines!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2007 1:10AM]

iphone looks like a scratched up , greasy brick.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2007 12:49PM]

wow... looks like someone forgot to clean their splooge off the iphone

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2007 12:53PM]

are you an idiot? what part of the iphone is cheap? if your gunna skeet all over jobs... do it in your own home, keep it out of here though

[Zutty Posted Sep 1st 2007 7:48PM]

Woah! What happened to Engadget? People are suddenly being rational about the iPhone (hooray)!

I'd go for the LG personally. I know the iPhone has a nice interface, but I'd rather have a proper OS. Webapps will NEVER be a substitute for proper applications.

[jbelkin Posted Sep 1st 2007 8:32PM]

THe phone above shows why cell phone companies have ZERO clue on UI. The button for the the PHONE should be ON TOP - and when you put another PHONE ICON with lines, not only is it visually confusing, it should under the PHONE submenu as it is on the iPHone.

That is why the iphone will be king of the hil for a long time. THe other cell companies are morons.

[ryan1988 Posted Sep 3rd 2007 11:42AM]

iphone is crap,no 3G,no mms,no video recording and cannot install any softwares.Sell for $499, after all its juz an ipod.Go for iphone if u r so ... tat nid a cooler and simpler interface.

[DoomSwitch Posted Dec 3rd 2007 5:58AM]

The only thing that has Apple going right now is their very picky and meticulous legal team; Just look at the comment they left on this comment thread!